8 Questions w/ Nick Valentini ’07

Getting to know the MYL fam! This week, hear from Nick about citizenship and caffieneation.

Who are you – what’s your name and MYL year, and what positions have you held with the Foundation/at MassSTAR?Hello! My name is Nick and I’m a 2007 MYL alumnus. I originally represented Georgetown Middle-High School and have returned to volunteer at the conference as a member of Junior Operations staff, a Junior Facilitator, and for the past three years as a Senior Facilitator

What are you up to now?This week was probably the laziest week of my entire life, mostly spent sleeping, catching up on TV shows and slowly packing/organizing my stuff to move to New Hampshire. Next week I’ll be starting medical school at Dartmouth!

I graduated in 2013 with a BA in Government and Environmental Studies with the goal of working in the field of environmental policy. However after many years as an EMT I decided I wanted to pursue a career in medicine instead. I spent a few years working in healthcare and preparing to apply to medical school before completing the application process this year.

America runs on Dunkin. You run on ______?5 hours of sleep and a trenta iced red eye* from Starbucks

*For emergencies only, normally a plain iced coffee will do the trick!

If you were a Muppet, who would you be and why?This was a very tough decision between Cookie Monster and Kermit the Frog. I share Cookie Monster’s love of food and appreciate that he finds fulfillment in a very simple passion. I can relate to Kermit’s kindness and empathy and also to the fact that he spends a lot of time trying to control the craziness of his friends and coworkers!

What does it mean to “be a good citizen”?I think citizenship means something different to everyone. It can entail being civically and politically active, raising awareness of causes important to you. In a broader sense, as a citizen of the world, it can mean practicing the values of respect, intentionality, and responsibility that are taught by the MYL Foundation and are crucial to a productive society. I think a good citizen is aware of the characteristics of his or her community and cognizant of the impact his or her actions have on other people.

What’s your ideal superpower?The ability to control time, I could always use more time in the day!

Tell us a memorable MassSTAR story!Some of the most impactful moments for me have been witnessing the development of the next generation of MYL leaders. Whether it be a delegate speaking in front of the group for the first time, or when a former delegate returns to conference staff, or when a delegate is sincerely thankful for the opportunity to participate in MassSTAR. It all makes for a very memorable MYL experience!

On a lighter note, surviving consecutive all-nighters on staff during the earlier days of the MYL conference and the hilarious moments from those nights will always be memorable.

Lastly, I have to mention that Cayla (also recently featured in this blog!) continues to hold a grudge against me for my role in the Ice Cream Game during her delegate year.

Do you have any advice for recent MYL Alumni?Absolutely stay involved with MYL and the alumni association! I have made lifelong friends and developed an endless network of professional colleagues from MassSTAR and it has been incredibly beneficial to have this support network throughout my life. I also encourage everyone to volunteer with MYL in some way, whether that be as staff returning to the MassSTAR conference or with one of our alumni association events. The experience “on the other side” of the MassSTAR conference is memorable and meaningful in different ways than the experience of a delegate.

On a more personal note, after 3 major changes in college, a few mismatched internships, and a lot of soul searching, my most important realization lately has been that it is completely okay at a younger age to not have it “all figured out.” As many of you finish high school and prepare to enter college, pursue advanced training, or begin employment, I think it is important to realize that you are not stuck on one path for the rest of your life. I encourage you to utilize the MYL network to aid you on your individual journeys!